Further Information

Basic Guidelines for Yoga Practice

1. Yoga practice should only be attempted on a virtually empty stomach. Approximately three hours after a meal; or an hour after a snack i.e. a piece of fruit. These guides are general however, and one should feel they have digested their meal almost completely before practise, however short or long that time may be.
  
2. Clothing should be simple and non-restrictive i.e. tracksuits, T-shirts, jogging bottoms, and sweatshirts. During class practice, shoes, trainers, hats, trousers, jeans, skirts, dresses, saris, and heavy chains/watches/or rings are prohibited. During summer, shorts and vests are permitted, if necessary. Scarves, gloves, and socks during winter are permitted, if necessary.
  
3. If you have an injury, ailment, or illness, and are unsure of whether to practice certain postures, consult your teacher, doctor, or healthcare professional.
 
4. Where possible, atmosphere, ventilation, sound, and company, should all be conducive to your yoga practice.
 
5. Where possible, the eyes should be kept closed during practice to enhance concentration (not during balancing poses though).
  
6. Visualizing coloured light, representing Chi, or energy, in the muscle or joint you are working on, greatly helps yoga practice.
  
7. Yoga is practiced to attain mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual harmony.
    
8. As little as 15 minutes daily practice of yoga is a good starting guide. Rising earlier is the solution to busy schedules. Correct yoga practice will give you more energy than restless sleep and is as imperative to life as healthy eating, drinking, and adequate sleeping.
 
9. When undertaking regular yoga practice, it is advisable to eat a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, rice, pulses, legumes, beans, milk, clarified butter (Ghee), and other suitable wholesome foods. Red meat, intoxicants, fast foods, fried foods, processed foods, and chemical additives should be avoided where possible. Overeating, and the late eating of meals should definitely be avoided. Eating food calmly, happily, whilst chewing it well and concentrating on the taste of the food, is beneficial for digestion. More important is what you think when you eat, than even what you are eating. Sleep should be regular (6-7 hours) and never on a full stomach (hence, the early eating of main meals). PLEASE SEE DIET SECTION AT THE BOTTOM
    
10. All aspects of yoga should be given equal importance in order to grasp the effectiveness of this subject. Meditation, pranayama, relaxation, and posture work should all be incorporated into a daily routine. If this is done, positive changes in the flow, energy, mind, and attitude of any individual will be discernible.
 
11. Yoga is a way of life, an unbiased, unprejudiced and a scientific discipline that has been the saviour of millions of people worldwide for over five thousand years.
 
12. Yoga is not bound to any religion, it is for all human beings regardless of their background. The texts, mantras, and prayers as well as the names of asanas, pranayamas and so on are all derived from the ancient Indo-European language of Sanskrit; the language of the traditional Vedic texts.
 
13. Always do your practice willingly and happily.